Tarpaulin sewing machine



June 29, 1948. F. D. 'coPPocK 2,444,335

TARPAULIN SEWING MACHINE I Filed Jan. 30, 1945 s Sheets-Sheet 1 June 29, 1948. F. D. coPPocK TARPAULIN SEWING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 50, 1945 z ipgczy wi June 29, 1948. CQPPQCK I 2,444,335

,TARPAULINSEWING MACHINE v Filed Jan. 30, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Shets-Sheet 4 llalr I u lo flllll' lllllUl-l June 29, 1948. 'F. D. coPPocK IZ'ARPAIJLIN SEWING MACHINE Filed Jan. so, 1945 Ill-ITllrllll l June 29, 1948' F. D. c PPocK TARPAULIN snwme MACHINE Filed Jan. 50, '1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I g w ay pacfi Patented June 29, 1948 TARPAULIN SEWING MACHINE Fred 1). Coppock, Greenville,.0hio, assign'or to Corporation, Greenville';

American Aggregates Ohio Application January 30, 1945, Serial No. 575,211

(Cl. ire- 2) 6 Claims. 1.

Thisinvention relates to an improved apparatus and'means for sewing long pieces-of fabric together.

An' object of this invention is to provide'in combination with a sewing machine of conventional type, means whereby long'pieces of fabric may be quickly stitched together along their lengthwise edges.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus of this kind which will permit the sewing: together of any. number of long fabric piecesto form a-covering of desired size, the apparatus being of such construction that coverings ofpractically unlimited size may be sewed thereby;

Afurther object of this-invention is to provide unimproved method of forming large fabric coverings, such as tarpaulins, tents, or the like, which includes moving one unstitched fabric piece: in a horizontalplane past the sewing machine; and feeding another unstitched fabric piece to the-machine'from a'roll disposed'below themachine.

A further object of this invention is toprovide an improved method of forming a large-fabric, which includes synchronizing the horizontal movementof a movable table with the feeding of thefabricpast the machine.

A further object of: this invention is to provide-in apparatus of this kind, an %elongated horizontally movable table adapted to support one unstitched portion of the fabric or a series of stitched fabric lengths, the table being. operatedby. a separate power device from the sewingmachine, and the operation of the power devicefor the table being: finelyregulated so that the table: will move at the same speed as the feeding mechanism of the sewing machine.

A-further object of'this invention is to provide apparatus of this kind which is simple in construction, so that it can be made atlow cost.

A-- further object of this invention is to pro.- vide ma sewing machine of the multiple needle type, means for keeping; the needle cool so that fabrics of different thicknesses can be secured together withoutinjuring the needles.

To the foregoing objects, and others which may hereinafter more fully appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying.

drawings, but it is tobe understood that changes, variations, and modifications may be resorted to which fall within thescope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a sewing apparatus constructed according to an embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken on the line] 2- 2 of Figure 1. t

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line a-s ofFigure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary. top plan of the device. r

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional 'view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal section taken substantially on the line 6--6 of Figure 4',

Figure 7 isa fragmentary plan view of'the central portion of the device.

Figure 8 is a plan viewof the table operating mechanism.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 8. 1

Figure 10 isa fragmentary longitudinal sec; tion of the fabric clamp carried by the'niovable table.

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic view of the electrio circuits embodied in this. device.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral l5 designates generally a sewing machine of con ventional construction, which is preferably "of the multiple needle type, and in the present instance includes a pair of needles whereby two lines of stitching may be made in the fabrics with one pass ofthe fabrics through the machine.

,The sewing machinelB includes a table It sup? ported by standards I! and I8, and also ahead l9; having a driven pulley. 20 about whichadrlving belt 2! is trained. The belt2l is also trained about a-driving pulley 22, carried by" a, motor shaft-23 connected to an electric motor 24 supported beneath the table [6. The motor 2 lis connected to a switch 25, which is springpressed toan open position, and the switch ZFlias correlated therewith a switch operating lever 26' pivotally mounted, as at 21.

A pedal shaft 28 is rockably mounted in bearings 29, which may be secured to the floor heneath the table It, and the shaft 2"8 has secured thereto an arm 35 which is connected by means; of alink 3| to the lever 26. A pedal 32 is secured to the shaft 28 and is adapted to be en gaged by the foot of the operator so that switch 25 may be selectively opened or closed to actuate the motor 24.

The sewing machine l5 has secured between 3 34 and 35 secured to the standards I! and 18, respectively. The roller 33 is adapted to have wound thereabout a length of fabric, and this fabric is drawn from the roller over the forward edge of the table it, and then passed below the pair of needles 36. An idler roller 31 is rotatably carried by the rear edge of the table [6 and is adapted to facilitate the movementof the fabric drawn from the roller 33 beneath the needles 36. In order to provide a means whereby the needles 36 will be maintained cool during the operation of the machine, I have provided an air nozzle An elongated stationary table 40 supported.

from standards 4| extends forwardly from the forward side of the sewing machine l5, and is provided in the upper surface thereof with'a plurality of rollers 42 journalled in bearings 43 to facilitate the movement of the fabric over the stationary table. A movable table generally designated as 44 is disposed parallel with the stationary table 40, and is of a length substantially greater than the length of table 40, and is movably supported on a pair of inverted V-shaped tracks 45, which are carried by a plurality of standards 46. The tracks 45 are adapted to be welded, or otherwise firmly secured, to the standards 46 and the tracks 45 are substantially twice the length of movable table 44. The sewing table It is disposed at right angles to the length of the tracks 45 and table 44, and is in substantially the transverse median of the tracks.

Movable table 44 has rotatably secured to the lower side thereof a plurality of grooved rollers 41, carried by bearings 48 fixed to the lower side ofthe table. posed transversely across the upper side of table 44, being journalled in bearings 50; carried by table 44. A second stationary table 5|, supportedalong the inner side of the tracks 45, is disposed in parallel relation with these tracks, being supported by supporting means 52 carried by the standards 48. The table 5| is substantially narrower than table 44 and extends rearwardly from the sewing machine l5. The upper surfaces of tables I6, 48, 44 and 5| are substantially coplanar, so that the fabric which is being stitched may readily and freely move over the stationary tables as the movable table '44 is driven and as the fabric is drawn from roller 33.

Movable table 44 is moved along tracks 45 by rotation of a winding drum 53, which is mounted on "a shaft 54. Shaft 54 is journalled in bearings 55,.carried by a base 55, which is positioned adjacent the sewing machine l5 and below the tracks 45. Winding drum 53 has wound thereabout a cable or flexible member 51,- and this member 51 is extended in one direction from drum 53, as indicated at'58, and is then trained over an idling pulley 59, rotatably carried by one of the standards 46. The flexible member 51 is extended from idling pulley 59, as indicated at 60, and is then secured to a bracket BI, which is fixed below table 44 midway of the length thereof.

Flexible member 51 is also extended rearwardly from drum 53, as indicated at 62, and is then trained about a second idling pulley 53 and from idlingpulley fifl is extended as at E4 in the directionfof bracket Bl. It will be apparent from the foregoing that rotation of drum 53 in one direc-' tion, or as viewed in Figure 6 in a clockwise di- A plurality of rollers 49- are dis-' clutch element 69.

rection, will effect winding of strand 58 on drum 53 and unwinding of strand 52 from drum 53. Table 44 will thereupon be moved to the right, as viewed in Figure 6, and in this movement will draw the length of fabric resting thereon past the sewing machine [5.

A driven gear 55 is mounted on shaft 54 and meshes'with a driving gear 66, which is connected to a reduction gearing 51'. The reduction gearing 61 is of conventional construction and is connected to a power member in the form of an electric motor 68. Gear 65 is loose on shaft 54 and has formed on one side of the hub thereof a A second clutch element 10 is slidably keyed on shaft 54 and is constantly urged into clutching engagement with clutch element 69 by means of a spring H, bearing at one end against clutch element ill, and at the other end against a roller 12, which is fixed on shaft 54. A clutch shifting fork i3 is rockably carried bya support 14 and engages clutch element 10. A fork operating member '75 is connected to fork i3 and extends laterally of the tracks 45, so that clutch it may be selectively moved to declutching position in the event it is desired to manually move table 44 in either direction independent of power member 68. v

In order to provide for the positive movement of the stitched pieces of fabric as sewing machine i5 is operated and table 44 is moved forwardly on the sewing cycle thereof, I have provided a spring pressed gripper I6 which, as shown in Figure 10, is adapted to grip the forward ends of the fabric lengths as these ends move forwardly beneath the sewing machine. The gripper or clamp 16 is connected to one end of a flexible member H, which is trained over a pair of grooved pulleys I8 and i9. Pulley i8 is rotatably carried by a forwardly projecting bracket secured to the forward end of table 44, and pulley 19 is disposed at right angles to pulley l8 and is rotatably carried by a second forwardly projecting bracket 8!, also secured to the forward end of table 44.

The flexible member 1.? has secured to the outer end th'ereof a weight 82 which provides a relief or safety means correlated with thetaible '44,

so that if for any. reason the table 44 shouldthe weighted clamp isprovided as a factor oi safety by movement of table 44 at a speed greater than the feeding of the cloth through the sewing machine. This weighted clamp also prevents buckling or wrinkling of the cloth after it has passed through the sewing machine in the event the table 44 should move at a speed slightly less than the feeding of the cloth or fabric through the sewing machine.

In Figure 11 there is disclosed a diagrammatic View of the electric'circuits embodied in this invention. Sewing machine motor 24 isconnected at one side thereof by means ofa conductor 84 to a supply line 85. A second supply line 86 is connected toswitch 25 atone side thereof, and the other side fofswitch 25 is connected by means'of a conductor 8! to a con-' ductor 83, and thefl atter is connected to the opposite side of motor 24. Motor 68 is a reversible motor and has one side of one field thereof coin nected by means of a conductor 89to'supply conductor 85. The other side of the same field which is the field for effecting forward rotation of motor 68 is connected by means of a conductor 90 to one contact SI of a reversing switch generally designated as 02. A manually adjust able rheostat 03 is interposedin conductor 90 and is conveniently mounted on sewing machine table I0, sothat the operator of the sewing machine can readily synchronize the operation of motor 63 with motor 24..

The reversing switch 92 includes a pair of movable switch blades 94 and 95 which are insulated from each other and blade 04 is connected by means of a conductor 96 to switch 25. Blade 95 is connected by means of a conductor Q'Ito supply conductor 80 and constitutes the reversing switch blade for effecting reverse operation of motor 08. The other field coil of motor 68 is connected at one end by means of a conductor 9% to supply conductor 35. The opposite end of the other or reversing field coil is connected by means of a conductor 09 to a contact I00, carried bysw'itch 92 which is oppositely disposed from contact Eli. Conductor is connected to conductor 86 ahead of switch 25 so that motor 08 will be reversed for returning table 44 to its starting position independent of the pedal operated switch 25.

A hand operated switch till, which is spring pressed to an open position, is connected by means of a conductor I02 tosupply conductor 80 and is connected by means of a conductor I03 to conductor 80. As shown in Figure 2 the two switches 3-2 and iii! are mounted on the sewing machine head I0 in a convenient position whereby the operator of the machine can selectively close either one of these switches.

In order to provide a means whereby motor 68 will be rendered inoperative when table 44 has travelled a predetermined distance along tracks 45, I have provided a limit switch I04 which is interposed in supply conductor 85. The

limit switch I04 is of the rotary type and is operated from drum shaft 54. The switch I04 includes a sprocket I05, which has a chain or flexible drive I00 trained thereabout, and a driving sprocket Iil'iabout which chain I06 is also trained is fixed to shaft 54. In this manner the travel of table 44 is limited so that the cable i will not be broken when the table 44 reaches the end of its travel in either direction. In the event the table should be moved to a point where limit switch I04 breaks the circuit to motor 08, it will be necessary to manually return the table 44 in order to provide for closing of the electric circuit by means of switch I04.

In the use and operation of this apparatus a piece of fabric of predetermined width and length is initially wound on roller 33. Where the fabric is of a width greater than the length of roller 33, the fabric is folded lengthwise and then wound in its lengthwise folded position on roller 33 with one longitudinal edge, as indicated by the numeral I08 in Figure 5, projecting from the opposite longitudinal edge of the fabric. The fabric which is wound on the drum is designated by the numeral 509 in Figure 7. The fabric which is to be stitched to fabric N39 is laid lengthwise on table 44. If the fabric designated by the numeral H0 which is laid on table 44 is wider than the width of table 44, the fabric is folded lengthwise and one edge III is extended from the 0pposite longitudinal edge, so that the extended edge III may overlap the extended edge I08 of fabric I09: Falbric IIOis laldon table I44 with a portion'thereof extending over the surface of stationary rear table M. the twofabricsIIiQ and H0 are brought together with "the extended'portions I08 and III overlapping each other, whereupon pedal 32 is do pressed by the operator so as to effect operation of sewing machine motor 24; At this time switch 92 is in a position with blade 94 engaging contact 9i. Depressing of pedal 32 will thereupon close the circuit from conductor through conductors 8i and 88 to sewing machine motor 24, and also simultaneously close the forward circuit of motor 08, through conductor 90, switch blade 04, contact 9i and conductor 90-. I w

Rheostat 93 is manually adjusted so that motor 88 will move tabie44 at a speed equal to the feeding of the fabric through the sewing machine it. After sewing machine I5 has been operated to sew a few stitches in the overlapping portions I08 andIlI; clamp- I6 is engaged with the stitched portions of the fabric, and sewing machine I5 may then be operatedto effect stitching of the remaining lengths-of the fabrics. As the stitched fabricsmove forwardly, fabric His will slide over the surface of stationary table 40, and fabric H0 will be immovable with respect to table 44, being held substantially fixed with respect to this table by the weighted gripping member I0. As the sewing machine I5 is operated a cooling draught of air will be discharged on the needles 36, so that these needles will not become heatedduring the stitching operation.

It will'be understood that the sewingmachine I5 operates at a rapid rate and the two fabrics I09 and H0 may be heavy canvas fabrics, which in certain instances may be treated with waterproofing, or the like, so that rapid reciprocation of the needles 36 will cause undue heating of the needles without use of the cooling medium in the form of air, which is discharged against the upper surface of the fabrics at the point of stitching and against the needles.

Where it is desired to stitch together additional lengths of fabric the first two fabrics which are stitched together are folded lengthwise on movable table 44, and this table is then either manually moved to its starting position by moving clutch member 10 to declutching position, or, if desired, switch 92 may be moved to a motor reversing position. The folded and stitched lengths of fabric on table 44 are folded in such manner that one longitudinal edge will overlie stationary table 5-! in substantial alignment with needles 36, whereupon the additional length of fabric on a new roller 33 is stitched to the previously secured together lengths. It will be understood that any desired number of lengths of fabric may with this machine be stitched together, and as these additional lengths are stitched together, the new length is folded over the table 44 and placed in a position where the unstitched lengthwise edge may be stitched to a further length.

With a machine or apparatus as hereinbefore disclosed, very large coverings may be made without undue handling of the fabric and without requiring any crane or travelling conveyor to shift the fabrics as they are stitched together.

What (I claim is:

1. In combination, a sewing machine, a stationary table extending from the forward side of said machine, horizontal rollers carried by the upper side of said table, a movable table parallel with said stationary table and movable across one end of said machine, supporting means for said mov- The forward ends of able table, means efiecting movement of said movable table in timed relation with respect to the operation of said sewing machine and fabric gripping means carried by said movable table for evenly pulling the fabric over said stationary table.

2. In combination, a sewing machine, a stationary table extending from the forward side of said machine, horizontal rollers carried by the upper side of said table, an elongated movable table parallel with said stationary table and movable across one end of said machine, guide means for said movable table, independently operating means effecting movement of said movable table, adjustable means for effecting movement of said movable table in synchronism with the operation of said sewing machine and fabric gripping means carried by said movable table for evenly pulling the fabric over said stationary table. I

3. In combination, a sewing machine, an electric operator for said machine, an elongated endwise movable table at one end of said machine, means supporting said table for horizontal movement, an electric operator for said table, means effecting synchronized operation of both operators whereby said table will move in timed relation with respect to said machine, and limit means connected to said second operator whereby to render the latter inoperative when said table reaches a predetermined point in the movement of said table in at least one direction.

4. In combination, a sewing machine, an elongated movable table at one end of said machine, a pair of elongated tracks beneath said t'able, rollers carried by said table engaging said tracks,

supporting means for said tracks, a winding drum, a flexible member about said drum and connected to said table for moving the latter upon rotation of said drum, an operator connected to said drum, and means on the sewing machine connected to said operator effecting operation of said operator in synchronism with the operation of said machine.

' 5. The combination set forth in claim 4, in-- cluding a stationary table carried by said supporting means and extending rearwardly of said machine.

, 6. The combination set forth in claim 4, including a stationary table carried by said supporting means and extending rearwardly of said machine, a second stationary table parallel with said tracks and extending forwardly of said machine and transversely disposed rollers carried by said latter table for facilitating the movement of the fabric thereover. A FRED D. COPPOCK.

REFERENCES CITED I The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 900,367 Davis Oct. 6, 1908 1,257,900 McCollum Feb. 26, 1918 1,758,101 Bates May 13, 1930 2,080,322 Le Vesconte May 11, 1937 2,144,326 Callaghan Jan. 17, 1939 2,166,350 Freshman July 18, 1939 2,387,185 Runquist et al Oct. 16, 1945 

